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ZTE expands into wearables

ZTE is joining the growing ranks of device vendors designing the wearable smart devices, with plans to launch a smart watch as early as the first quarter of next year.

The head of ZTE's handset business He Shiyou toldthe Financial Times that the new product will form part of the vendor's attempt to become a top three device manufacturer.

He said the company is also working on other wearable technology, such as smart glasses to take on Google Glass, but these products will take longer to develop.

The next three years will be a crucial period for ZTE's device ambitions, He added, and the company is pulling out all the stops.

According to the report, ZTE has also agreed to resume making smartphones based on Windows Phone, after Microsoft reassured the vendor it still wants a large ecosystem for the platform, and the acquisition of Nokia's devices business hasn't changed this goal.

ZTE smart watches will be competing with products already on the market from Sony and Kickstarter participant Pebble, as well as planned products from Samsung, Qualcomm and – according to rumors – Apple.